Proverbs 1:21-25
 
Prov 1:21 (KJB)
She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,
 
Crieth - Calls out
Concourse - An uproar, loud, noisy
Openings - Entrance
 
Wisdom is also found in the concourse, which is a place where much noise is heard telling us that is here many people are gathered. The 1568 Bishop’s Bible translates this word as “congregation.” So wisdom is found where ever there are many people gathered. Then we are told that it is found in the entrance to the city at the gates. This is the place in ancient times where the elders of the city sat and maybe wisdom was found in them. It is also found in those who are going in and out of the city, as wisdom may come from afar. Then we are told that wisdom is found throughout the city. Chiefly the true wisdom is preached in the congregation of the upright. (Psa 40:9-10 KJV) I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. {10} I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. The true wisdom is given by God Himself to His children.
 
Prov 1:22 (KJB)
How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
 
How long - Until when
Simple - Younger, inexperienced, or naïve
Simplicity - Foolishness, open minded, gullibility
Scorners - Mockers
Fools - Stupid
 
Here is an indictment of those who have rejected wisdom. The question is posed how long or until when will you continue to be foolish or gullible? What does it take in your life to reject gullibility and to live your life in wisdom? Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a catastrophe for us to do some serious introspection. Then the second question is posed to those who mock wisdom. How long are you going to mock wisdom knowing that living a life of foolishness will only lead to destruction? Then the third question is how long will those that hate knowledge continue in life without any real knowledge to manage their life. The overall question is how long do you think you can live without making any decisions based on knowledge? Too many today make decisions on shallow reasoning and find themselves in trouble. True wisdom looks at the whole picture. The word for “fools” in the Hebrew can also be understood as “stupid.” This may sound harsh but ignorant people lack wisdom because they may not have come into contact with it but stupid people have it all around them and reject it.
 
Prov 1:23 (KJB)
Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
 
Turn you - Repent, to be restored, or turn back
Reproof - Correction or argument
 
For those who will become saved, the admonition is that wisdom will cause them to see their erroneous lifestyle and will cause them to repent. The promise is that wisdom will pour out his spirit, that is, the Holy Spirit will be given to those who are becoming saved. In fact, the words “pour out” carries with it the idea of a gushing forth or an effusion of the Spirit. Then when the Spirit indwells a person, they will know the true Gospel and with that true Gospel comes true wisdom. When God saves someone, there will be true repentance.
 
Prov 1:24 (KJB)
Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
 
No man regarded - No one paid attention
 
Here is the essence of the pride of man thinking they know it all. Here wisdom calls to them and they refuse to heed that call and it is like wisdom holding out her hands with open arms and no one is even paying attention. This wisdom is preached via the Scriptures and man in his dead condition, only sees the things of the flesh and of the world. They reject the wisdom of God and continue to go on their own thinking they have a handle on their life and that they can handle all things which come into their life.
 
Prov 1:25 (KJB)
But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
 
Here is the essence of the unsaved man. They completely reject all the good counsel which comes with true wisdom and refuse to accept any of the reproofs or corrections which would set their life on the right path. Man’s natural wisdom has always been at odds with the wisdom of God. We see this today as man tries to deal with sin through psychology or psychiatry. Both of these fail to deal with the real issues of man and that is the sin nature. They tend to reject the idea of personal accountability which God requires of each human. This is why Judgment Day is going to hold a major surprise for millions of people.

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